According to data from Packaged Facts, a consumer research company, American consumers spent $30 billion on gift cards last year. Chances are good that you were among them. Gift Card Granny, the Internet’s biggest gift card discount website, reports that nearly 93 percent of American consumers have either given or sent a gift card.
RewardExpert recently spoke with Trae Bodge, the company’s smart shopping expert, about Gift Card Granny’s history and growth, buying and selling services, and how you can use the website to save on your next vacation.
More Than 400,000 Gift Card Deals at Over 1,000 Retailers
Founded in 2009 as a gift card comparison website, Gift Card Granny was acquired by Jason Wolfe, an Internet entrepreneur and the founder of GiftCards.com, in 2013. Headquartered in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the company now employs close to 150 team members, has over 200,000 members, and receives 13.9 million website visits per year.
Through partnerships with a number of gift card resellers, Gift Card Granny is able to connect consumers with more than 400,000 gift card deals at any time from over 1,000 stores and websites. “Gift Card Granny only partners with trusted providers,” Bodge said. “As a consumer, you never have to worry that the gift card you’re purchasing is fraudulent. Our partners have protections in place to ensure you’re buying a valid gift card.”
These protections include a refund or return policy, customer support, and clearly communicated shipping or delivery expectations.
Buy, Sell and Earn Rewards
Whether you’re buying a gift card to give as a gift or for your own shopping needs, Gift Card Granny makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. The searchable website organizes gift cards by category—including restaurants, gas, grocery, travel and clothing—as well as alphabetically by brand.
You can narrow available options by type of card (eGift or physical) as well as by card value. “The average discount on gift cards on Gift Card Granny is between two percent and 30 percent,” Bodge added. “Sometimes businesses will have even bigger promotions, especially during slow sales months.”
If you’d like to browse available discounted gift cards while on the go, you can download Gift Card Granny’s free app for iPhone or Android. “It’s very easy to use,” Bodge said. “Say you’re in the mall and planning to go to a particular store. You can very quickly and easily search for and buy a discounted gift card through the app.”
For those who prefer to do their shopping online, Gift Card Granny has released a desktop extension for use with Google Chrome. “When you’re shopping around online, a little banner will pop up on your screen to let you know that Gift Card Granny has discounted gift cards available for that particular store. It’s a great way to save without even having to think about it,” Bodge said.
You can also sell gift cards you don’t want for cash, earn free gift cards through the Granny Rewards program, and check your gift card balance for over 1,000 popular retailers.
Stack Your Savings at Home and Away
“Gift Card Granny is an unexpected way to save,” said Bodge. “If you’re planning to shop at a particular store, it makes sense to go to Gift Card Granny and look for a discounted gift card. Say you find one for 20 percent off. You automatically save that amount when you use the card—and that’s on top of any other coupons or discount codes the retailer offers. You can stack discounts and save even more whenever you’re shopping.”
While discounted gift cards can be an easy way to save on groceries, household supplies and other things you buy every day, they are also an excellent tool to help you get more out of your travel budget.
“Prior to booking a trip, check the Gift Card Granny website or the app to see if there are any airline, hotel or online travel agency gift cards available,” Bodge suggested. “We also have a lot of restaurant gift card inventory. Whether you’re flying to another city or taking a road trip, discounted gift cards for restaurants can save you quite a bit.”
“We also have discounted gift cards for gas,” Bodge concluded. “You’ll find gift cards for Exxon Mobile, Conoco and all the other major gas stations so you can save on gas and snacks for your next summer road trip.”